Forecast

Game report: Napier's strong second half leads UConn past Rutgers

on January 25, 2014

Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press

Image 1of/4

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 4

Connecticut guard Niels Giffey, back, of Germany, can't hold onto the ball as he is swarmed by Rutgers defenders during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) less

Connecticut guard Niels Giffey, back, of Germany, can't hold onto the ball as he is swarmed by Rutgers defenders during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Piscataway, ... more

Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press

Image 2 of 4

Connecticut guard Ryan Boatright dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Rutgers on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Connecticut guard Ryan Boatright dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Rutgers on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press

Image 3 of 4

Rutgers forward J.J. Moore (44) dribbles the ball as Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier (13) tries to block his path during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) less

Rutgers forward J.J. Moore (44) dribbles the ball as Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier (13) tries to block his path during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in ... more

Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press

Image 4 of 4

Rutgers guard Craig Brown (15) tries to make a steal on Connecticut forward DeAndre Daniels during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) less

Rutgers guard Craig Brown (15) tries to make a steal on Connecticut forward DeAndre Daniels during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel ... more

Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press

Game report: Napier's strong second half leads UConn past Rutgers

1 / 4

Back to Gallery

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The UConn Huskies might not be making yearly trips to the RAC any longer, but Rutgers' fans won't soon forget Shabazz Napier.

The senior guard scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to lead the Huskies to an 82-71 victory in front of a sellout crowd in American Athletic Conference play Saturday night. UConn (16-4, 4-3 AAC) beat the Scarlet Knights (8-12, 2-5) for the 20th time in 22nd league games. Ryan Boatright added 12 points and Amida Brimah had 10 as the Huskies went over. 500 in conference play for the first time this season.

Kadeem Jack and Jerome Seagears each had 19 points for Rutgers, which made 8-of-18 3-pointers after shooting 28 percent in the previous six league games.

Trailing 41-36 at the half, the Scarlet Knights made it interesting with an 8-0 run -- with help from two 3-pointers -- to open the second half. UConn answered with a 7-2 run, with Boatright scoring on a layup to give his team the lead for good at 48-46 with 16:13 left.

Then Napier (7-of-18 shooting) took over, scoring 14 of the Huskies' next 19 points, including eight straight at one point, to give them a 67-59 lead with 7:02 to play.

The Huskies took a 1-0 lead before the game even tipped off after Rutgers was hit with a technical foul for a pregame dunk. Napier made the second free throw.

Brimah had a solid first half with 10 points and five rebounds (eight rebounds overall), but the loss of DeAndre Daniels could have been a huge blow. The 6-foot-9 forward fell over teammate Ryan Boatright and twisted his right ankle with 4:11 to play in the half. Daniels put no pressure on his right leg while being helped to the UConn bench, but slowly walked off the floor a few minutes later with help and did not return in the half.

Daniels returned in the second half to play eight minutes and finished with seven points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.

STAR OF THE GAME: Napier. Brimah did a solid first-half job, but Napier kept firing and making his shots in the second half to carry the Huskies.

KEYS TO WIN: The Huskies improved to 10-0 when winning the board battle, taking down Rutgers 34-29. They also outscored Rutgers 34-12 in the paint.

WORTH NOTING: The Huskies host Houston on Thursday, but they are 0-3 in 9 p.m. games this season, including a loss at Houston. ... Omar Calhoun dressed but did not play for UConn due to a sprained ankle. ¦ After missing one game due to the death of his cousin, Boatright was back in the starting lineup for UConn. ... Rutgers hosted its first sellout in two years and handed out "blackout" T-shirts to the first 1,000 fans. ¦ The Scarlet Knights never made the NCAA tournament the entire time they were in the Big East. Rutgers, which moves to the Big Ten next season, made the NIT three times.